Weir for irrigation-ditches for measuring water



1 M. H. TUCKER. WEIR'FOR IRRiGATlON DITCHES FOR MEASURING WATER.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, I920. 1,352,929.

Patented Spt 14, 1920.

M 01y TITIYI/[L I? 510527 I attowm MONTRAVE-L H. TUCKER,

PATNT FICE.

or BLANCA, COLORADO.

WEIR FOB, IRRIGATION-BITCHES FOR MEASURING WATER.

7 Specification of Letters Patent. i'PatQnted Sept. 14,1920.

Application filed January 7, 1920. Serial No. 349,843. l 1

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MONTRAVEL H. TUCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blanca, in the county of Costilla and btate of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVeirs for Irrigation-Ditches for Measuring IVater, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to an improvedweir, particularly adapted for use in irrigation ditches, for measuring the water when irrigating the surrounding land. I

In many places the old style weirs cannot be used owing to the collection of sand above the weir crest, therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved weir including a sand gate adapted to be so manipulated as to permit the sand to be carriedaway, in fact washed along with the flow of the water through the irrigating ditch. 7

Another object of the inventioniis to provide an improved Weir, which may bemanufactured for a relatively'low cost,sold and installed in theirrigation ditches at a rea- I sonable profit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a weirincluding a sand gate having an upwardly extending arm or member graduated from the lower end upwardly for indicating the height'at which the gate is disposed, for measuring the amount of water I which is released. 7 p I r A, further object of the invention is to provide a weir which may be constructed of any suitable metal, preferably galvanized iron or the like, though not necessarily, and alsoqincluding a frame, which may also be constructed of any suitable metal and having guides for the sand gate, the foregoing elements being suitably reinforced, thereby rendering the structure durable. A stillifurther object ofthe invention is to provide a device of this kind including packing means between the said gate and the weir, to render the adj acent. parts water tight, to withstand the pressure of the water and to prevent leakage, particularly when I the sand gateiis down and water measurements are being taken.

In some localities, when irrigating land properties, there is so much sand and silt, that the old style weirs will fill up over night, therefor-e preventing a correct measurementof the water. It has been-found that to attain a correct measurement of the water, there must be dead water above the weir, and this deadwater may be carried off for irrigation purposes. in measured quantities by lowering the sand gate, until the desired amount of water has been released and measured, after which the gate may be raised, permitting the waterto flow under the gate. It is an easy matter for a ditch rider, just before passing over the ditchzto adjust the sand gate, and attain axco'rrect measurement of the water, and then lower thegate to its proper position. Furthermore, the weir may be constructed in anysuitable proportion according to the requirements, or according to the various widths and depths of irrigating ditches While the design and construction at present illustrated-and set forth is deemed preferable, .it. is obvious that as a result. of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, providedthey are comprehended within the scope of what; is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combinationof parts, as will be herein-- through the weir and the sand gate, thereby showing the detail construction. Fig; 3' is'a horizontal sectional view. on line 33' of Fig. 2. 1 Fig.4: is ail-enlarged detail view of the weir showing the sand gate removedi 2 Fig.7 5 is a detail view'of the sand gate. Referring more especially toxthe drawings, 1 designates an irrigating ditch, the sides of which are provided with oppositely arranged guides 2. These-guides maybe constructed of wood or the like, or may be constructed preferably ofconcrete, though not necessarily, and mounted in the guides 2 is the weir 8 including the sand gate 4.

The weir comprises a rectangular frame 5,-

' are s acin bars also secured b the faswhich consists of the top transverse piece 6 and vertical side piece 7. Riveted or bolted to the side piece as at 8, preferably riveted, though not necessarily, is the weir plate 9. Interposed between the side portions of the weir plate and the side strips of the frame tening means of the weir plate and the side pieces 7. By means of these spacing bars, the weir plate is spaced from the side pieces 7 thereby forming guides 11 for the sand gate. The lower side portions of the weir plate are provided with. depending parts 12, which cooperate with the lower portions of the side pieces 7 to provide guides (which are continuations of the former guides) parti'cularly to receive the sand gate when lowered- The weir plate may be of any suitable shape, and its opening at the top may be either rectangular, as shown in the modified construction of the weir, or may have upwardly and outwardly inclined edges. The sand gate, when raised is designed to close this opening, when it is desired to allow the water to pass under the weir plate.

Secured to one face of the weir plate between the adjacent edges of the upper and lower openings of the plate, either by bolts or rivets, preferably the latter, though not necessarily, is a bracing strip 13 adapted for reinforcing the weir when in use, and enabling ity to withstand the pressure of the water. The lower portion of one face of the sand gate has a transversely disposed vmetallic strip 14 secured thereto in any suitable manner as at 15. Also the gate is provided with downwardly and laterally diverging brace strips 16, preferably riveted to the gate as at 17. A vertical strip 18 is also riveted as at 19 to the gate. These bracing strips act to reinforce the gate,

whereby it may withstand the pressure of Water in the irrigating ditch.

Secured to the upper piece of the frame of the weir is an angular plate 20, the horizontally disposed portion 21 of which has a guide slot 22. An upstanding arm or bar 23 is riveted to thevertical and transverse bracing strips of the gate and passes through the guide slot 22. This arm or bar 23 is provided with graduations-25 in inches so that the gate may be set at different heights, the graduations being used to indicate the height atwhich the sand gate is disposed. The arm or bar 23 is provided with notches 26 tobe engaged by a spring detent- 27 to hold the gate in adjusted position. The upper end of the bar or arm terminates in a hand hold 28, whereby the sand gate may be adjusted by the ditch rider. One face of the weir plate, adjacent and conforming to the upper edge and the inner edges of the depending parts of the weir plate, is a packing 29 of rubber, though not neces- 'the ditch. r

The invention having been set forth, whatis claimed as new and useful is 1. In a weir, the combination with an irrigating ditch having opposite guides in its walls, of a weir frame including a weir plate and guides engaging the guides of theditch, said we1r havmg upper and loweropenings, and a sand gate mounted in the guides of the Weir for closing either of said openings.

2 In a weir, the combination with an irrigating ditch havingopposite guides in its walls, of a weir frame including a weir plate and guides engaging the guides of the ditch, said weir having upper and-lower openings, a sandgate mounted in the guides of the weir for closing either of said open-' ings, and means for holding the sand gate in different adjusted position.

, 3. In a weir, the combination with an irrigating ditch having opposite guides in its walls, of a weir frame including a Weir plate and guides engaging the guides of the ditch, said weir having upper and lower openings, and a sand gate mountedin the guides of the weir for closing either of said openings, the upper portion .of the weir framehavi'ng a lateral projection provided with a guide opening, anupwardly extending arm or bar'secured to the gate and provided with graduations reading from the lower portion of the bar or arm upwardly, said bar or arm passing the guide slot or opening and means cooperating with the bar or arm for holding the gate indifferent adjusted positions for closingeither of the openings of the weir.

4. The combination with an irrigating ditch having opposite vertical guides in its walls, of a weir mounted in the guides and provided. with upper and lower openings,

a sand gate having operative sliding conposed between the adjacent faces of the Weir and the gate.

6. The combination with an irrigating ditch having opposite vertical guides in its walls, of a weir mounted in the guides and provided with upper and lower openings, a sand gate having operative sliding connections with one face of the weir for closing either one of the openings, for measuring 10 the water and also permittingof the release of the sand collection, and a packing interposed between the adjacent faces of the weir and the gate, and means for holding the gate in different adjusted positions, said holding means including an arm secured to the gate and provided with graduations for indicating the height of the gate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

MONTRAVEL H. TUCKER. 

